MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's Christmas Eve, and this little Heathen family would like to wish you a very Merry Chrismahannakwanzika. Feel free to throw any other religions in there. We're going to eat, drink, open presents, and generally be merry - and we hope you do the same. :)

The Crazy Cat Lady

Yesterday, I made some mango curd (just call me Martha Stewart).

To make mango curd, you have to puree mango (I would say 'duh' but that might make me seem a little obnoxious, since I don't think mango curd is on everyone's list of things-to-do....wait, did saying that just make me sound obnoxious?).

Anyway, I used frozen mango chunks to make the puree, so I basically ended up with mango sorbet. I only needed half of what I made, so I sat on the couch, half-watching Josh play COD (just shoot me), and eating mango sorbet straight out of the food processor, with a big wooden spoon.

Attractive, eh?

Well, at this point I should tell you that Rufus (the cat) loves loves LOVES anything fruity and cold. Fruit cups, pineapple, popsicles, yogurt - anything fruity and tart is a win with him. So, he comes running over to me when he senses what I'm eating.

So I do what any normal cat lady would do...

...I shared my sorbet with him. One spoonful for me, one spoonful for him, and on and on til it was gone.

If it makes it any better, I didn't lick the spoon in the same spot where he licked...

(yes, I know it's not really better, but please humor me so I don't feel completely loser-ish)

Conundrum

I have a slight problem, and I would like your opinion.

Do you know who Gabriel Iglesias is?



I think he's super funny. I would love to see his standup. Guess what? He'll be at Ramstein AFB this Saturday night, giving a free show.

Wonderful, right? And, it's the day after my birthday, so it's like a present. I assume the Air Force knew it was my birthday weekend when they were planning this show.

Here's the problem....Gabriel Iglesias is the opening act. For Daughtry.

If you don't know who Daughtry is, then you're awesome. I'm not going to post a video, because it's my blog, and I don't want to put that crap on here. Let's just say that I'd rather sit on a chainsaw than see Daughtry.

So, the logical thing to do would be to go see Gabriel Iglesias, and then leave before Daughtry starts.

But....that just seems in bad taste. I can't stand Daughtry, but I don't want to be RUDE. I know it's not like he's going to be searching the audience from backstage, shedding a tear for every person that leaves before he gets on stage. But, I can't shake the feeling that leaving early would be a giant faux pas.

Also, do I really want to be surrounded by tons of Daughtry fans? They seem like people I don't want to be surrounded by...

What to do, what to do...

Books Books Books

I consider myself well read, and a lover of books. There are many books I haven't read that I really should. There are no books that I've read that I regret reading. Not because I love every single book I've ever read, (I'm lookin' at you, Lord of the Flies) but because reading is reading is reading. The more knowledge you have in your little pea brain, the better. Plus, I think reading goes hand in hand with imagination and creativity. The more you read, the better adventurer you are. I've never met a person that loves to read that doesn't also love to explore new things in a non-reading capacity.

But, even I have a long way to go to be a true bookworm. Now, my brother's girlfriend - SHE'S a true bookworm. I aspire to be like her one day. She's aaaaalways reading. I get into moods where I read and read and read and read, but then I'll take a several week hiatus from reading. I'm ADD like that. But not Beth - she's a super bookworm (and super cool, too).

But I found myself being one of those people this weekend. You know, those people that are talking to friends about a book/movie/show, and the friends say something like, "Oh, I've never read/seen that," and then those people say, "What do you MEAN you've never read/seen that?!?!? What kind of person ARE you!??!!!!"

Yeah, well, I was out to dinner with friends - 4 of 'em (plus Josh). We were talking about Twilight (::shudder::) when Harry Potter came up. And no one at the table had read them, except for me and Josh.

:|

THE HORROR!!!! I think I may have slightly shouted, "WHAT?!". I couldn't help it. Then I realized I was being one of those people. So, I stifled myself as best I could, and just said, "Please, just read them." It was like my soul was on its knees and begging.

And, to be quite honest, I'm not even a Harry Potter-phile. The books aren't even good adult books - they are written for children. I love Harry Potter, but I'm certainly not obsessed.

I thought I had my those people vibes in check after that night. But then, I did it AGAIN last night.

Josh and I have a trip planned to Amsterdam in February. Last night, we were talking about how our hotel is within walking distance of the Anne Frank house.

And then, Josh hits me in the face.

Ok, no, he didn't physically hit me. But, his next words were like somebody knocked my teeth out.

"You know, I should probably read The Diary of Anne Frank before we go to Amsterdam."

WHAAAAAAATTT!????!?!?

And that's when I realized....I am one of those people. So I'm just going to embrace it. If you haven't read a book or seen a movie/show that I think is important, I'm going to make a big deal out of it.

Now, if you have a completely opposite opinion than me, that's ok. Kind of. If somebody said to me, "OMG, Nicolas Sparks is an amazing author," I would AT LEAST be happy that they are a reader. But I will totally judge you for loving Nicolas Sparks. Same goes for Twilight - it's a book for preteens and teens, and at least the series got them reading. But, it is ridiculous drivel that pooped out of the mouth of a woman who's mentality is straight from the '40s.

And - just so you know - I totally understand that sometimes I will be on the other side of this equation. Like, the other day at the same dinner with the Harry Potter hoopla. We were at a restaurant that had music going on in the background. All of a sudden, an Adele song comes on.

:|

Courtney: Oh my God, I HATE Adele. I cannot stand her.
Other 4: WHHHAAAAATTTT!?!?!?!?

If there had been rocks around, I think they would have stoned me to death.

Like, I get it. I get that Adele has a beautiful voice. But every time she opens her mouth to whine about another failed relationship, I want to throw her off a bridge.

If only I could put Adele & Stephanie Meyer on a dinghy, and push them out to sea. Let them go be weak women elsewhere.